Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-10

How Great Painters Sometimes Ion,
or Sell Their SIGNATURES.

Paris Letter to Boston Herald
Not very long ago an acquaintance Of mine went
to one of the best known OF the art dealers In this
city with a-picture by famous artist, pastel by
Degas, showing an English lady leaning over
balcony watching horse race.
Just see to what point forgeries are carried, "
said my fried, addressing the expert. "Here is q
copy OF Degas which has been offered to me as
an original; confess frankly that even you have
been taken in by It." The dealer examined the
work and began to smile. Then, Struggling his
shoulders as he handed back the pastel, he said:
"Really, the imitation is as plain as the nose on
mans face. ought to know something about
the original, as 1t once belonged to me-"
~ was that very original which the dealer had
sold few months previously that my friend was
showing him. At first the victim was rather up.
to cover his defeat with the remark: "Well, the
know"
Ilngulshing the true from the false among the
mass OF pictures that now flood the market Why,
you nave no idea in America OF the thousand odd
trcks 70 which these foreign forgers resort and It
Is not the forger or counterfeter alone who is to
De reared. There are artists who will sign pic
lures they.never painted, and here Is an instance
In point. COrot was not only great artist. but
ne was also kind-hearted man. One day an ex-
pupil, who has since made snug pile by paint
81 have not penny; IL you Will consent to sign
In,s nstle canvas for me, you will save me from
The great artist took the canvas, placed 1t on
his easel, added cow to the landscape and then
wrote his name with brush and paint in one cor
ner. HOW would the most Sklllful expert that
ever lived have set about proving that that Corot
was not genuine? There is in Paris physician
VINO makes specially Of trading in false pictures
He made the acquaintance OF a young man Of
mucn talent, whose pictures were remarkably
IKE those OF celebrated figure painter, and he
e1Gsed an IT @ by which, IN return for an
young Fellow was to turn over to him all the pic
lures that he painted during that time. One day
showed him canvas.
What do you think OF it," he asked.
~ Is excellent, and remarkably like my own
ut cost me 200 francs"
"Well, that was dirt cheap"
But II you will consent to sign your name to it
can get 10000 francs for it. Will you do it,"
THAT would make my signature worth Is. SOOf
BUSINESS is business; I'll sign the canvas for
best Of me-"
a.. The money was paid, and that picture is now in
tne gallery OF rich collector, who paid 80 5OOf.
lor IL. Inc widow OF a wealthy merchant once
purchased panel from Fromenttn for 15,OOOf.,
anu at ner request he signed on its back atteS-
IaIion OF It's authenticity. Some time after that
aItists death this widow, having pressing need Of
money, consulted dealer about selling her panel
picture. The man offered to buy 1t, and at the
same Time would SO arrange matters that no one
tSuia ever Know that she had parted with it, And
TINS Is what he did. He sawed the panel In two in
such way that the back was separated from the
'front.' and on this back, which bore the atte6tation,
q skllliul forgery was painted OF the work, while
nave found himself nOnplusSed in either Of these
three cases. would he not? The best way to avoid
fraud Is never to buy pictures from dealers, but
ohiy from the painters themselves. OF course
ana the best thing collectors do In the OF
oea0 ones Is to let their works alone.